Learn about charging the Chevrolet Volt in your home, either with the standard 120 volt charge cord set or by having a 240 volt charging station installed. You can charge the Volt in 4 hours on 240 volts or about 10 hours on a standard 120 volt outlet.

We hear this question all the time, and it is a great question! The answer is that the 240V charger is more efficient, because it shortens the overall charge time. However, this has less to do with the battery, because the Volt is able to manage the voltage and current flow to the battery at the same levels while charging regardless of what level charger the vehicle is plugged into, and more to do with other functions that support charging.

For example, there is a charge management and a thermal management system that run simultaneous to control charging. These systems manage current flow and battery temperature to safe levels and require energy to do so. Therefore, by shortening the overall charging time, you run those extra loads for less time, resulting in a higher percentage of the total energy used going to charge the battery.

For more than 50 years, Ferndale Electric of Ferndale, Mich., has been providing specialized electrical services for commercial buildings, such as manufacturing facilities, power plants, and public buildings. Electric CEO Art Ashley and his wife Mary recently celebrated two years of owning their Volt. During that time, they’ve driven more than 20,000 EV miles and saved over 800 gallons of gasoline. We first spoke with the couple in the fall of 2012 for a video interview and we recently caught up with Art to learn more about his role in electrifying the Detroit area.